Educational Technology: Week Eight

This week, we spent our time thoroughly studying computer safety and security. This subject is something that I did not know much about before reading up on it this week. I think, after reading the information, that this is something we should teach young students about from the moment that they start using computers in the classroom.

Personally, I have had two different instances where I saw a computer virus at work first-hand. My mother-in-law and my dad both had their email accoutns infected with a virus that emailed their contact lists. I received both of these emails, but I was not affected by the virus, thankfully. It is interesting, though, how frequently you hear about this and how easily they are spread. The internet is such a vast "world" that there are most likely millions of people out there creating all sorts of things.

With that being said, it is so important as an individual to make sure that all of my accounts are password protected and that all of my personal computers are heavily protected with updated anti-virus software and firewalls. I am not the most technologically-savvy person (although I am a whole lot more after this class!), so I am grateful that my husband is always on top of keeping our antiviral software current and up to date.

As a teacher, I think it is inexplicably important to make sure that your students are protected from online maliciousness.  Since young students are often not as familiar with malicious software or what it looks like, it is important to educate them when the first begin using computers at school. They need to learn about viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses so that they are aware of the different types of malicious software out there.

Though I don't have my own classroom yet, I have been in many a computer lab throughout my school career. As we talked about earlier in the semester, the school's AUP Policy is definitely helpful with what is and isn't allowed in regards to computer use in schools. I also think it is infinitely important to make sure to only use trusted sites and cut down on use of different disk drives as much as possible, since these easily spread viruses. If students are aware of the different threats, they will be less likely to click on questionable attachments or links. It is also important, as supervising teacher, to make sure that they only try and visit reputable sites so that there are less risks of malicious software involved.

I think it is also important to educate students on "netiquette" so that they learn how to conduct themselves in an online environment. This skill is going to be something that the upcoming generations of students need to hone, as they will be using them in their everyday lives for the forseeable future. As teachers of this generation, it is important that we do our best to educate them about not only about the threats and security, but also about how to "act" on the web.

Educational Technology: Week Seven

Hello there! This week we have learned quite a bit of information ranging from video games to the brain to Web 2.0 tools.

To start, we read a couple of quick articles on video games and their affects on individuals.  Oftentimes we hear people talk about how detrimental video games can be for their users. These articles, however, explained that they aren't all negative. There are some positive aspects to video games that are often overlooked. In the article entitled Video Games: Can They Be Educational?, the author points out that there are certain games that are definitely "bad" but there are others that can be used for good. He gives an example of The Sims as a game that can be used in a positive way for students. Since The Sims is made up of simulation activities, students are able to have the autonomy to control their character. Things happen in the game similarly to the way things happen in life. For instance, if you lose your job and can't afford groceries,  your "character" will need to look for another one or it will suffer. This can teach students the importance of responsibility while promoting autonomy. Based on this exploration, I think it's important to think twice before immediately focusing on the negative parts of video games. Since many young people like them, it is important to try and find ways to spin them in a positive manner.

After this, we moved on to www.dana.org, which is a great resource for brain research. We explored various articles that dealt with how arts integration in the classroom and throughout development could positively affect individuals.  In the article called Neuroeducation: Learning, Arts the Brain, the keynote speech by Dr. Jerome Kagan explained that there are countless reasons why arts should be integrated into the classroom. 

Dr. Kagan mentioned that not only does art integration help with physical brain development, but it also helps with how students feel about themselves. He mentioned in the speech that too often, children compare their work with the work of their classmates. If they feel that they are "below" others, they often give up and decide that they are not good at particular subjects. I myself have done this with math classes. As a student, I always thought that English was my best subject and math was my worst, so I focused more on English and treated math as a chore. I wish I could go back and focus more on the positive aspects instead of the negative, just as Dr. Kagan mentioned. If students feel that they are creating art for the sake of art or beauty rather than for the sake of a grade, they are more likely to be less judgemental of themselves and create more freely.

I also learned from the other two articles that we studied on this site some very specific ways to implement the arts into the classroom.  I believe, especially after reading these articles, that every teacher should find a way to use arts or music in their classes. One specific part of the article called Arts and Cognition: Findings Hint at Relationships that particularly stood out to me was this: "Correlations exist between music training and both reading acquisition and sequence learning. One of the central predictors of early literacy, phonological awareness, is correlated with both music training and the develompent of a specific brain pathway." This basically means that it is proven that music helps with reading. A simplified way to implement this in the classroom that I plan to use is to have classical music playing during assignments. I also think it would be beneficial to allow students listen to music through earphones while they are reading at their desks. I love to read and listen to music, and why not let students do that, as long as they are staying on task?

This week, we also had a few more Technology Exploration assignments. These were: www.delicious.com, www.historypin.com, www.diigo.com, two different talking calculators, a math WikiSpace, and PicLits.

  Delicious

1.

After viewing the Delicious website, I did not feel that the website was very helpful in explaining the concept of what delicious.com does. After looking around and reading some reviews of it, I can tell that Delicious is very similar to Pinterest, in that they are both digital bookmarking sources.   I am an avid user of Pinterest. I use it every day, and often multiple times per day. After viewing the Delicious website, I found that I thought Pinterest was a superior bookmarking site. Though I would not be opposed to using Delicious, I already have a Pinterest site established and organized. I did feel that the Delicious site was more “professional.” Oftentimes Pinterest is filled with tons of visual images, and it is difficult to book mark certain things without an image attached to it. I learned that Delicious might be better at bookmarking text centric passages.

2.

I can tell that Delicious could be very useful for a classroom setting. As a teacher, if I set up my own Delicious site, I could easily curate all the websites or sources that I feel are important for certain lessons and have them organized in one space divided however I like. For example, if I were teaching a unit on William Faulkner, I could easily tag each website on Faulkner that I found relevant and interesting. This would be a meaningful and useful way to organize my sources. Also, this could be used particularly for Presentations that use online sources, such as WebQuests or PowerPoints, so that students could easily click on them to view.   Delicious could definitely be used in any grade level or classroom setting, since it is primarily a means of organization for the teacher, which is another good thing about it.

3.

I believe I would recommend this to other educators, especially ones who do not use Pinterest and could have use for an online bookmarking program. I know lots of men do not use Pinterest because it is filled with recipes, outfits, and home décor items, so Delicious might be a good choice for them.   I also think it is fairly easy to use once you get the hang of it, and it is a great organizational tool. I also like that this resource is free.

History Pin

1.

History Pin is a really great concept! I think that this could definitely become something “big” when the word gets out about this site more. The first thing that came to my mind is that it would be a great resource to potentially track down your family’s ancestry, especially since you can click on a place and time and see images that others have uploaded. It is a great idea, and I’m surprised someone hasn’t thought of this before now!   Again, History Pin is similar to Pinterest, except that this site is only for historical references like photographs, video, and audio. It is also a little different than Pinterest as users don’t have “boards” the way they do on Pinterest.   After reading about this source, I feel that it is going to really gain popularity and momentum as time passes. The more people use this, the more useful it will become. I was previously an editor at Arcadia Publishing, which is a historical book publishing house, and this site would have been extremely useful in that job, as it would be a great place to track down people who know a lot about the history of their families or towns.

2.

Another thing that struck me was that this site could be an incredible resource in a school setting. Like its name says, History Pin would definitely be useful in a history classroom. It could be used in others as well such as English classrooms, but I feel that it would best be used in history classes.   That being said, it could be used in class in many ways. From researching the website, I saw that various schools have already used History Pin in a few great ways. One way I think would be neat is to create a comprehensive project for a history class. You could divide all of your classes into decades, and have the students in each decade go out into the community to find individuals with old photographs and historical stories behind them. Once the students had found the images and stories, they could be uploaded to HistoryPin, and the town would have a documented history online. This would be amazing! It would be an awesome thing for the town or community as a whole, and allow students to have real-life interactions and help contribute to the greater good.

3.

I would most definitely recommend History Pin to other educators. I feel that this resource will really become useful, especially as time goes along and more and more people contribute to it. As I mentioned above, it could be a great resource and idea for a comprehensive community and classroom project that students could spearhead.   I also like that this resource is free and students could explore it for real life images and recording of certain times in history. For example, on a lesson on Great Gatsby, students could use History Pin to view real images from 1920s New York. I really, really like this resource!

Diigo

1.

Upon exploring this resource, I was unfamiliar with Diigo. After exploring the website and learning about it, I feel that it could definitely be a useful tool. Diigo is another means of organization, but this one is cloud based, and it also allows for users to interact with one another and collaborate with research.   Mainly, Diigo’s purpose is that it is “a personal research tool,” “a collaborative research platform,” “a social content site,” and “a knowledge sharing community.” What Diigo actually does for the user is that it allows the user to bookmark websites and information that you find useful, highlight things on websites that you need to remember, collaborate with others by leaving bookmarks and notations for them, and all of this can be accessed on any computer.

2.

Diigo could definitely be useful for a classroom setting, and for a school setting in that teachers could use it together to help bounce ideas off each other and bookmark pages that they think would be useful for other teachers.   As far as a classroom setting goes, Diigo could be really useful for students who are writing research papers or performing a group project. For example, if students are completing a project about The Great Gatsby, they could highlight certain parts of websites that they find useful and need other teammates to see. They could also bookmark pages that they know will be useful for their assignment. I also really, really like that the user of Diigo can bookmark pages and then read them off-line on their iPhones or iPads. This would be so helpful and beneficial for when you are not in a Wifi zone and don’t want to use your data on a long article.

3.

I think I would recommend Diigo to other educators, and I feel that it would be a useful tool for schools to provide to individual classrooms or teachers. It is a nice way to keep track of certain websites and valuable information. I do not know if I would purchase Diigo with my own dime, though, since it would be more meaningful as a collaborative tool. The fee of the basic package is $20 per year, and that is not too bad, but I feel that it would only be worth it if colleagues and students could all have access to it.

PBS CyberChase

1.

This website is great, especially for elementary to middle aged math students. I found through exploring it that there are numerous activities, games, and math puzzles that the website provides that could be very useful for teachers and students. I like the graphics on the website, and I also like the way it is organized with tabs at the top but also through the “find it” tab that breaks the site down into subjects like fractions, geometry, math and sports, measurement, and more.   I also thought the bright graphics and clear and easy to use site was great.

2.

This resource could most easily be used in elementary to middle school aged mathematics classes. Teachers could use this source in a variety of ways, especially since there are so many different subjects on this source. A teacher, for example, who is teaching measurements could use this, but so could a geometry teacher. I think it would be a great review tool for students right after being introducted to a new concept, but it would also be a good review for students right before an exam. It would be a fun homework assignment, assuming that your students had access to internet after school. It would also be a fun group activity, or a way to differentiate instruction if some students are behind or ahead.   In regards to the talking calculator, this could definitely be useful in a math class, as well. Oftentimes it helps students to hear rather than see exactly what they are doing. It could definitely be implemented into the class, especially for English Language Learners. They could use this resource to hear how certain numbers and math terms are pronounced and what they do.

3.

I would definitely recommend this source to math teachers. It could be so useful for a math classroom, and a very good resource for them when they need some specific fun games instead of standard teaching methods with textbook and notebook. I also think the benefits of having students use this with its bright colors and graphics would be great since it would draw them in and make the math problem more of a game. Also, since this resource is free, there is really no reason not to use it!

Big Simple Calculator

1.

This resource is basically what it’s title is – it’s a big, simple, talking calculator. This resource is pretty cut and dry. Users can download this resource for free and it covers the entire computer screen. It has customizable tabs that can change color, and the language of the calculator can be changed as well.

2.

This resource would be especially beneficial for classrooms that contain ESL students. For students who are new to English, they could use the English setting to help learn the pronunciation of numbers and math terms. They could also use the Spanish or their certain language setting to complete the problems if they needed to.   I could also see how this calculator could be helpful for students with certain disabilities. For example, for a student who has difficulty hearing or seeing, they could use this resource to listen to the words or to see the large numbers. It would be very beneficial for these students.   It could also be projected onto a screen for whole-class instruction so that students could see a large version of what to the teacher is doing. Instead of walking around and showing students individually, the teacher could use this for helping with entire class instruction.

3.	I do think I’d recommend this to other educators, especially ones who teach math. This resource, though simple, could be useful in the instances above. It is clearly easy to use as well as free, which is definitely a positive aspect of it.

Writing Accross the Curriculum: Mathematics WikiSpace

1.

This resource is a great example of a successful use of a WikiSpace. The site is broken down into organizational tools on the right hand side of the page that has resources like “Teacher Tool Box” and “Standards in Math.” The homepage explains what the WikiSpace is about, which is “Writing Across the Curriculum: Mathematics.”   I read over the site, and I definitely believe that the content of the site is useful and meaningful. The objectives of the space is to explain the importance of combining writing in mathematics classes as well explain the types of writing that could be used in math classes. I had heard of the concept of writing across the curriculum before, but I liked learning about concrete examples of how to implement this in the classroom.

2.

This resource could definitely be beneficial in a school setting, as it is a great resource for math teachers. A teacher could use this resource when planning to implement more writing into his or her classroom. For example, this resource gives specific examples of writing that should take place in math classes. These are journals or logs, solving math problems, explaining mathematical ideas, general math writing, and creative math writing. Each section explains in detail simple ways of adding this to math lessons. One that I liked reading about is the example they used in which students wrote poems about math. Not only does this hone their English skills, but it also allows for them to think about the math subject that they are currently studying.   These techniques are important and can be used in any type of math class and with any age student. Teachers could resort back to this WikiSpace when they need new ideas or resources in regards to this subject.

3.	I would recommend this to other teachers, as I believe that writing across the curriculum is a very important concept in and of itself. For math teachers, this resource could be invaluable in that it could serve as a free and useful resource for new ideas on how to implement this in classrooms.

Pic Lits

1.

I really like the concept of Pic Lits. I think that as a (soon to be) English teacher, I could definitely use this in my classroom often.  The website explains that the resource is made to “inspire users to write, express themselves, and share their work with others.” The site is a safe environment that does not allow just anyone to upload images, so it is guaranteed that students will not come across any inappropriate material.

2.

I know that I will use Pic Lits in my own English classroom. I like that it allows for creativity and it combines a nice image with the student’s own words. It can be as complex or as simple as the user wants to make it. There are tons of images and words to choose from, so the user can definitely find something that they like or that they find interesting and relevant to what they are doing.   I think a good way to implement this into the classroom would be to have students use it when learning about haikus or poetry. They could choose an image that inspires them, and then write a poem over it. It could also serve as a nice introduction or photograph for a presentation or at the beginning of a creative writing paper. There are really endless possibilities with this one since it allows for so much creativity.

3.

I would recommend this to others, and I will also use it in my classroom. First of all, it is free. Secondly, it allows for both autonomy and creativity for each student, which are two of the most important factors of teaching and learning, in my opinion. It is self-explanatory and easy to use, and it allows users to save their work or email it. It would be a fun thing to display on the class website.

The Web 2.0 tool that I chose to explore was something I found called Crocodoc.  The website can be found here:   https://crocodoc.com/get-started/. I think that this tool is amazing, and though I do not have a classroom yet, I will definitely use it when I do.

The thing that I like most about Crocodoc is that the user is able to download any type of document and allow the user to interact with it. Though it does other things as well, the most appealing to include:

"- Collaboratively add and reply to comments on shared documents
 - Take notes when collecting research
 - Fill out forms and submit requested paperwork
 - Send colleagues feedback on presentations.."

As an English teacher, one of the most important resource I can have at my fingertips is an easy to use document editing resource. This is important to me for a number of reasons. If I am working on grading or editing papers at school, I want to be able to save my work and continue it from home. I don't want to have to deal with tons of different hard copies and keeping track of certain drafts that students turn in.

With Crocodoc, this cuts out the unncessary hard copies of the paper work almost completely. With Crocodocs, I can upload students papers and edit them via Crocodocs by using their highlight, arrows, and comment tools. Then, I can share it with the student or studnets on our classroom database, and they can go in and complete their edits.

I love, love, love that I would be able to complete this work on an iPad or my work computer or my home computer or even potentially my iPhone if I got in a bind. The flexibility would be great, and it would be so helpful to have it all consolidated into one space.

Secondly, I focus a lot on being "green" as much as I can. I want to instill that notion in my students, as well, and have them try to cut down on unneccesary printing. With Crocodocs, since it is all online, there is no need to print out multiples drafts over and over for editing. Instead, it is all done on the computer, and the paper usage can be saved for the final draft. Crocodocs helps with this, too.

The Crocodocs website is clear, clean, and easy to use. It is also free (up to a point), so I could use this in my classroom without having to pay a fee. This makes it even more of a positive. I will definitely use this Web 2.0 tool in the future.

Educational Technology: Week Six

This week, we learned about WebQuests.  I actually learned a lot this week, because I was not aware of what a WebQuest was when we began this lesson. Looking back, I believe I did complete one of these in High School, though, but I can barely remember it.

We started the week by studying a few different sources that explained exactly what a WebQuest is and how they originated. I have to say, I found it interesting that the structure of WebQuests is pretty strict. The different components that are supposed to be there include the introduction, task, process, resources, evaluation, and conclusion. I can see how these components are beneficial, since they break down the whole assignment into easy to handle sections. 

After reading about WebQuests, I feel that they could truly be beneficial in almost any type of classroom. English classes and history classes seem that they would really lend themselves well to WebQuest usage.  For example, I found a great example of a WebQuest created by an English teacher who used it to teach about mid-20th Century authors. Here is the link:

http://sfcstudent123.tripod.com/authorwq.html

In this WebQuest, the teacher divided students up into groups and had them pretend that they are working in a publishing house and are tasked with deciding who is the best mid-Century modern American author. The students in each group were then given individual parts such as "biographer," "literary critic," "literary analyst," and "presentation coodinator and assistant analyst."  Each student was assigned a specific task to do using the research and links listed on the WebQuest. At the end, the group was to create a presentation on the author they believed to be the best and present it to the class. Then, the class would vote as a whole to see which author "won."

I think that this WebQuest is a great example, especially since it it allows individual and group work as well as creates a slight competition, which students enjoy. I also feel that it could be used for almost any time period or group of similar authors such as the Beat generation or Southern Gothic authors. I definitely plan to create a variation on this WebQuest for my classroom.

 My WebQuest

http://questgarden.com/159/84/1/130603120942/

 



Though I do not have my own classroom yet, I tried to create a WebQuest that could be relevant for a future classroom or easily changed to accomodate certain authors, books, and time periods. With that being said, what I chose to do was a WebQuest about The Great Gatsby. I actually chose this for two reasons - I studied it when I was a senior in high school, and it is one of the books that made me fall in love with literature, and secondly, I recently saw the new movie adaptation of it and felt that it is a popular and relevant topic right now.

 

 

In my WebQuest, I really wanted to focus on how authors' lives and time periods affect their work. For Process 1, I had students research a few links about the Roaring Twenties and write a quick paragraph about their findings to turn in to me. I didn't really want to make this part of the assignment too difficult, but I did want to ensure that they actually did the reading. This paragraph was listed on the Evaluation section, which ensures that students will take it seriously.

 

In Process 2, I had students explore Fitzgerald's life and background. Once they were finished reading about him and watching the assigned video that I linked, they were to complete the Word Document with questions that I attached. I also did not want to make this part too difficult since the last component is time-consuming. I also listed this Word Document on the Evaluation section, to make sure that students complete it.

 

Process 3 is my favorite part. I assigned students to choose an object or use of symbolism that Fitzgerald used in The Great Gatsby and create a Glog, work of art, or presentation about it. I listed a specific list of what exactly the project needed to have, but I did not make the list very long as I wanted the students to have a good amount of autonomy on this one. I want them to think creatively and come up with something that they find interesting and then express it in a creative way.

 

Once the presentations were complete, I chose to have students present them on "Gatsby Day," and give them extra credit if they dressed in the Roaring Twenties attire.

 

I felt that my WebQuest was a successful one, but I do feel it would be interesting to see how it went over in a classroom. I found the entire process of creating one to be quite challenging. It was difficult, especially since I don't have a classroom yet, to think of an idea that would be relevant to high school students without having a curriculum yet. It was also difficult to come up with tasks that weren't boring. I felt that my final task of having them think deeply about symbolism and express it in a creative way was a much better assessment of understanding than just a paper or worksheet.

 

I did feel, however, that Quest Garden made the process much easier. It broke the steps down into manageable sections, and it provided tips and examples of other WebQuests to help along the way. If I am in a school where I have easy access to computers that all of my students can use, I feel that I will use WebQuests often. I like that it allows students to be in charge of their own learning, while giving them the autonomy to be creative at the same time.

 

 

 



Week Five: Educational Technology

This week in class, we focused on learning about Visual Literacy as well as how to implement online communication sources in the classroom.

As we explored in the article entitled "2009 Horizon Report: The K12 Edition," there are various ways to communicate via technology and to use this concept in the classroom.  I learned through the sites that we explored that there are two types of communication styles - synchronous and asynchronous.

Synchronous is when individuals communicate at the same time and have "live" conversation with one another. This can take place through face to face communication, telephone, and through programs like Google Chat and Skype. This type of communication can be implemented in the classsroom through having students use Skype to talk to peers in other countries. Google Chat could also be useful for teachers to talk to other teachers in their school or district as a means to bounce ideas off of one another.

Asynchronous communication is when individuals communicate on their own time. The most common example of this type of communication is email or text message.  Other types of educational technology that use asychronous communication is Edmodo, which I will discuss more about later.  Email in particular is a great way to communicate with parents, as it allows both teacher and parent to communicate with one another on their own schedules.

Visual Literacy was the largest component of our lesson this week.  We explored some examples of Visual Literacy and how using it can be beneficial for students. One of the items that we explored was an interview with famous filmmaker Martin Scorsese.  In the video of him, he speaks candidly about how being exposed to Visual Literacy as a child greatly impacted his life.  In the video, he mentioned that he grew up without many books and without reading much. Instead, he spent much of his time watching television and going to movies.  These visual mediums impacted him and became the primary way in which he learned, ultimately becoming his passion and career. 

I learned this week that it is important not to focus only on specific types of learners.  I have always been an avid reader and lover of books, and so sometimes I am guilty of focusing on that too much and not realizing that other people have other learning styles and interests. I think that using Visual Literacy in my classroom will help me reach the students, like Scorsese, who are more visual learners, and give them a chance to become engaged and interested in class. 

There are many ways in which Visual Literacy can be used in the classroom. Students can create posters or Glogs, which I will explore in the Technology Exploration section below. As instructor, I can assign projects that allow students to watch videos or create their own videos. They can create presentations using different types of Visual Literacy technologies to present to the classroom.  There are also numerous online games and puzzles that students can use to enhance their learning about specific subjects.  I also think that using visuals on a classroom website or Wikispace would be helpful as a means of Visual Literacy for the class as a whole.

 

Prezi

1.

After exploring www.prezi.com, I found that this resource is a new and great way to create presentations. PowerPoint, as we discussed in our Lesson Four lecture, can definitely become boring and stale when used too often or when used the wrong way. Too often, teachers just create standard, text-heavy slides and read them aloud to the class. This is not an effective way to teach. However, after learning about Prezi, I feel that this program takes presentations up a notch.  Though this resource could be used for almost anything, the website had a whole tab for “Prezi for Education.” Once I clicked this, I came to a screen that explains how it can be used in the classroom. I learned the most, however, when I looked at the Prezi “If You Put It That Way” by Leticia Cavagnaro that is listed on the education page. This Prezi showed me how they really look and was a great example to explore.

2.

Prezis could be used in various ways in the classroom.  The example that I mentioned above, “If You Put It That Way,” shows how easily Prezis are manipulated, and how much more exciting they are to view than PowerPoint slides.  I like that the presentation said we should stop thinking so “laterally” and start thinking in a different more “whole” way.  The Prezi was interesting and captivating, and the zooming and images were fun and drew the audience in.   They could be used in the classroom primarily for presentations. I think that students are so bored and tired of PowerPoint slides that this resource would be like a breath of fresh air for them.  It would be a fun way to present information rather than just reading off of slides.    I also think that Prezis could be used by students when they are to create a presentation for the class. Oftentimes, students get bored creating PowerPoints, as we discussed in class.  This would give them the opportunity to have more creativity and autonomy with what they want to do with their presentation.   I also noticed on the Education page that students are able to create “Prezumes” and Portfolios using this resource. I love this idea! I think the Portfolio idea would be a really neat way to display students’ work such as a book of poetry with accompanying drawings or a presentation about an author with appropriate images. It would also be  a neat idea to have students create a “Prezume” along with a paper resume at the end of their senior year. That way, they are prepared for applying for college and/or jobs after graduation. It is an interesting way to get them excited about such a mundane task.

3.

The educators’ version of Prezi is free which creates even more of a reason that I would recommend Prezi to other educators. I am excited about this one. I feel slightly intimidated, as the example I looked at was impressive, but I feel that with enough practice and tinkering, I would be able to grasp this resource and use it effectively in my classroom.  The price tag is also a large positive for me, as I mentioned above.  I also like that it has a whole section on Education, which shows how useful it can be in the classroom.  I look forward to having an official school email address so I can register for this resource!

Spicy Nodes

1.

At first, I had no idea what www.spicynodes.org was going to be.  After exploring it, however, I feel that it could be a very useful tool to know about.  The website explains that “spicy nodes” are organizers that are used on websites to help with organizational purposes.  For example, a website administrator could use Spicy Nodes to organize their website’s information.  The Spicy Nodes can be organized by shapes such as a bubble map or a tree. Their primary purpose is to make users or viewers more capable of finding information.

2.

This could definitely be used in a school setting. I browsed some examples, and one that I found to be relevant and interesting was the example “Exploring Calendars through the Ages.” This was located on an educational website, and the user was able to click through the Spicy Node resource to discover more about calendars. It was a fun and interactive way to engage the viewer.    Another example I liked was the Clinical Placement Q&A. I liked instead of just listing the questions and answers, they were placed in a bubble map format and the user could click on the question that they are wondering about. This is just a more interesting and engaging way to answer these questions. I think that this would be a neat idea to implement on my classroom website or Wikispace. I could potentially use Spicy Nodes to create my own Q&A bubble map that answers questions students might have such as my email address, office hours, and more. I could also make them for specific assignments that explain the assignment and list the due date so that students have access to this information easily.  I think that using Spicy Nodes in a presentation would also be useful. As instructor, I could incorporate them into a presentation on whatever topic I am presenting on at the time. These would be fun for students to see since they are interactive.

3.

I would recommend Spicy Nodes to other educators. I think that they are interesting since they are interactive and easily customizable. They could also be implemented into the classroom in various ways, which is a plus. I also like that the single person use is free of charge. If I were to use it for more than only me, however, I don’t believe I would pay the $24 per month fee. I did also feel that they would be somewhat of a challenge to create, so if I were going to make one, I would want it to be one that I could use for more than just one quick lesson.

Edmodo

1.

Wow – I really, really like the idea of Edmodo! I think that this resource could be extremely valuable in a classroom and school environment. After exploring the website www.edmodo.com, it seems to me that Edmodo is sort of a combination of Facebook and Twitter, but with only students, teachers, administrators, and parents. The teacher can organize their Edmodo by class, and each student can sign up and have access to the class at all times.  I think that this is a genius product that is sure to become more popular in schools as time passes. In my opinion, it is a great way to keep students engaged, especially since they can access Edmodo on their phones or tablets. I think it would be useful, as the teacher, to be able to post things on Edmodo to enhance instruction.

2.

Edmodo could definitely be used in a school setting. It could primarily be used by creating an Edmodo account for your particular classroom, and have your students join and engage in the conversations and assignments you post. After watching the “about” video, I can tell that Edmodo feels “current” and that students would be excited about something that they are familiar with that is a form of social media. As a teacher, I would use this in my classroom in the ways that were shown on the video. For example, it would be a great way to take classroom “polls” about subjects and gauge student understanding about the particular lesson. It would also be a fun place to post the games and applications available that would help enhance student learning. I also think that the idea of posting reminders and inviting parents to join and see what is happening in the class would be very useful and effective.    I really think that Edmodo would serve to create a great classroom environment where the students feel closely knit to one another. It would be such a positive think to provide for my class, since I could post positive feedback, images, and photos from great projects done by students. In short, I can’t wait to use this in my class!

3.

I would absolutely use Edmodo as well as recommend it to other teachers. It would be helpful to see other teachers’ classroom Edmodos to help enhance my own. Since the resource is seemingly free, this is even more of a reason to use it. I think that it is such a great resource- not only for organizational purposes, but for creating a comfortable and fun classroom environment. I love that as a teacher, I could post things from my phone or home computer and my students could do the same. This is current and accessible for students.

Math Dictionary for Kids

1.

At first site, this resource is a great way to implement math games and activities into the classroom. At second glance, however, this site also concentrates on vocabulary. At the top of each game, they define the word so that the student doesn’t just mindlessly click and play. I learned that this was a fun and engaging way to help students either become introduced to these mathematics ideas or for them to review and test their understanding of these concepts. I liked that the website was extremely simple to use and the bright colors would be engaging for young students.

2.

This resource could definitely be applied in almost any math classroom. The concepts that are listed on the site range from simple math to algebra to geometry. These could be implemented, therefore, in elementary to middle to high school math classes. I think that a math teacher could use these as a review for their students before upcoming tests or as an activity to ensure that the students are learning what they have been studying. It would also be a fun homework assignment (if all students had access to the internet).  I think it is especially useful since the site incorporates both math and vocabulary.

3.

I would definitely recommend this to math teachers, since there are tons of free games for students to play to enhance their learning of a subject. The site is extremely simple to use, and with some guidance, even elementary aged students could operate it successfully. I think that the fact that the resource is free is also a positive. I think that the games that are included on the site are fun visuals that would help students to grasp a subject since they can personally engage in the activities.

Glogster

 

1.

I honestly had no idea what to expect from the Glog website, and it took me a bit to actually understand what a Glog was. Once I explored the site, though, I saw how useful this resource could be for me in the future.  The part of the website that I found the most informative was the blog section that was entitled “40 + Ways to Innovate Teaching Using Glogster EDU.” This section listed all of the different ways that Glogs can be used in the classroom, and it used extremely specific examples.  I was unaware that a technology like this existed, but I think using Glogs would be a great idea.

2.

Glogs can definitely be incorporated into a classroom seamlessly.  Like the Blog post on their website mentioned, this resource could be a very valuable resource in my classroom.  I think that one of the best ways that Glogs could be used would be as an introductory tool from me, as the teacher, to my students and their parents. It would be a nice and fun way to post and/or email my information out to the upcoming class.  It could also be posted on my class’s website or Wikispace, so that students and parents have immediate access easily.   Another way that I would use Glogs in my classoom would be to have my students make Glogs for certain lessons. As we have been discussing this week, typical PowerPoint presentations can often be overused and unsuccessful.  That being said, having students make a Glog for a presentation on a certain subject would be much more engaging and exciting for them than a standard PowerPoint. Since Glogs are able to be posted and shared on almost all types of social media, it would be fun to post them on a WikiSpace or on your class’s Edmodo.

3.

I would definitely recommend Glogs to other educators. I thought that the website was helpful in explaining how useful Glogs could be in the classroom.  It would be helpful to have that resource to help you come up with ideas for how to implement Glogs successfully in the classroom.  I also feel that the price isn’t unreasonable. The price is $39 for one year for one secondary teacher with 125 students. This is definitely affordable, especially if Glogs became something that you used in your classroom on a regular basis.

Jing

1.

The TechSmith website mentions Jing, which is a tool that allows its user to take a screenshot of their screen or a recording on their screen and display it to a classroom or on a website or through email. I actually have a tool similar to this that I use at work in order to copy information and maps for reports that I enter data into. I definitely get a lot of use out of this tool, but I have not seen a resource that allows the user to copy a video as well as an image. I also think it is useful that this tool is compatible with both a PC and a Mac.  That way, it is compatible with any computer that you have at work or at home or that your students have at school or at home.

2.

Jing could potentially be very useful in the classroom.  The example video on the website showed that this resource could be used very successfully when the teacher has to be out of the classroom.  The example listed showed a teacher that, when called for jury duty, used Jing to record himself speaking to the students so that they were able to watch and listen to him present the new material for the week. The teacher mentioned that instead of taking a risk with a substitute and not knowing if the lesson would go over in his absence, he just recorded himself teaching and had the students watch it in his absence. I think this would be the most useful way to use this resource in the classroom. I also think that it could be used simply as a way of copying information that you need to have ready for a presentation or to email it or post it to a website or Wiki.  Similar to the way that our instructor recorded a class session during the Memorial Day holiday, this resource would be best used as a means of communicating to students when you as the teacher are absent or when students are absent.

3.

I would recommend Jing to other educators, but mainly for the reason that I discussed above of using it when you or your students are absent. It, in my opinion, would be best used for make up work or in situations like these.  Since Jing is provided by TechSmith free of charge, it would be a good resource to remember in these situations. I am not sure that I would pay a fee for this resource, but since it is free, it makes sense to use it when applicable in your classroom.

YouTube for Education

1.

Before exploring this resource, I was unaware that there was a section of YouTube exclusively for educators and students.  I often use YouTube in my everyday life at this point, as do most people.  With that being said, YouTube seems like a logical method of teaching enhancement, since most people are familiar with how to access and view YouTube videos.    On the teaching tab of the education section of the website, there are many specific examples listed that explain how to use YouTube to help with instruction.  There are examples listed like “get struggling students up to speed, and push strong students ahead,” “review for upcoming exams,” and “create quizzes to accompany videos for instant feedback.”   I like that not only does the website explain in specific steps how to incorporate videos and make videos for your classroom, it also gives you, as the teacher, specific examples of how to use this resource in the classroom.

2.

The website listed various ways that YouTube for Education can be used in the classroom.  I think that the best way that this resource can be used is by creating a YouTube channel specifically for the classroom and then implementing it throughout the year.  As a teacher, I would create a YouTube channel for my class that I private and only seen by my class (unless we decide otherwise at that time).  I like the idea of occasionally having students watch the upcoming lesson outside of class and then coming to class prepared to have a quick review and start applying what they learned in concrete practice situations.  I also think a YouTube channel would be a good place to post a video of important lectures for students who are absent or may need extra review.  I also like the idea of using YouTube for Education as a way to review for exams. It would be useful to post it on the classroom’s channel so that students can look over it for practice before an exam. The options with this resource are really endless.

3.

I would recommend YouTube for Education to other educators. Not only is it helpful to have a channel for your own classroom, but it is nice to have access to tons of educational videos about various different subjects that you can use in your instruction. It reminds me of www.ted.com, except with more instructional videos than speeches.  I also like that this resource is free and easy to use, with easy to understand instructions that guide you through creating both channels and videos.

School Tube

1.

School Tube is a resource similar to YouTube, except that it is made specifically for students and teachers to have a space to safely share videos.  I think that this site is a good idea for a classroom, especially since it weeds out all of the irrelevant videos found on YouTube. Students could easily get distracted on YouTube, but with School Tube, most of the videos would be school or education-related, which would decrease distraction.  School Tube also offers fun ideas like competitions between school channels and videos and the ability to share with others on the site.

2.

The uses of School Tube in a classroom would be similar to the YouTube for Education uses.  For example, teachers and/or schools are able to create their own channels to feature relevant videos for your classroom or school.  This could be used as a school-wide effort to post videos with daily or weekly “school news” which could consist of records of different students in the school reporting on the school’s current events. This could also be used similarly to YouTube for Education by creating and uploading videos that enhance a presentation or lecture or fill in students in the case of absence.  It could also be used as a means of asynchronous conversation between other schools or students so that classrooms can communicate with other students and learn from them. It would be an interesting idea to have something similar to pen pals except in a virtual format using this resource.

3.

Since the resource appears to be free, I would recommend it to other educators. It is definitely suited to schools and students since it is made for them and helps with the problem that YouTube has of distractions and privacy. I like that School Tube allows for only classroom-centric videos instead of having everything. I also feel that the site is easy to use.

Teacher Tube

1.

From exploring this resource, I initially learned that Teacher Tube is sort of a play on YouTube, except meant especially for teachers. The site is divided into different tabs at the top, such as videos, doc,s audios, photos, groups, classrooms, and collections.  The premise of the site is to provide teachers with a place to create their own videos or documents and upload them so that other teachers can critique them or use them. It is almost like a teacher “sounding board,” where other teachers are able to discuss what does and does not work for them.  I also learned from this resource that there are tons of videos that are uploaded to this site that are made specifically for certain classroom lessons. This could potentially be a great resource to use in my classroom. From the “about” tab, I learned that this site was created for teachers by teachers, and that the content is monitored, so it is nice to know that the atmosphere is going to be decent and not full of any type of video the way regular YouTube is.

2.

Teacher Tube could be implemented into my classroom by using the videos and documents uploaded to enhance my instruction. For example, if I were needing a video to add to my instruction about persuasive writing, I could search Teacher Tube under the language arts section and find an appropriate video that would potentially help my students understand the concept. Since all of the videos are education related, it is easier to weed through the information uploaded and find something that is appropriate.   Teacher Tube could also be used as a place to upload videos that I create to help my instruction. That way, I can get feedback from other teachers and bounce idea off of them. It could definitely be useful when trying to find exciting new ideas for teaching.

3.

I believe I would recommend Teacher Tube to others, but I am unsure how much I will actually use it. I think that the YouTube for Education site is more practical for me since I would want to create my own channel and allow students to access what I create. YouTube for Education allows the user to set video to private, so if I didn’t want to students to see it, I could do that rather than managing an account on Teacher Tube. I do think that it is a good place to know about, though, since it is free and there are many videos uploaded that could potentially be used in classrooms.